From Adam and Eve to the Zulu's Unkulunkuku, this text gathers the world's major creation stories into a single volume. Exotic beliefs of ancient peoples are explored in detail. Modern theories of creation derived from science are also included.

This comprehensive reference source—the only one of its kind—covers creation myths through the ages, from the legendary sagas of ancient civilizations to modern scientific theories. The pages of Encyclopedia of Creation Myths present dozens of fascinating tales of clever creations, humans emerging from cosmic eggs, and scientists defying centuries-old religious beliefs.

What makes something mythic? What do mythic events and narratives have to do with us? In Mythology, David Leeming offers an unusual and effective approach to the subject of mythology by stressing universal themes through myths of many cultures. This anthology collects a wide array of narrative texts from the Bible to English literature to interpretations by Joseph Campbell, C.G. Jung, and others, which illustrate how myths serve whole societies in our universal search for meaning.